Olympic athlete 'almost drowns' during event at 2024 Games as shocking details of rescue emerge
An Olympic athlete has revealed that he almost drowned while competing at the 2024 Games.
While the majority of the events at the Games are taking place in the Ile-de-France region which contains the French capital Paris, some are being held further afield.
The most distant events of the 2024 Games are in surfing, which are being judged more than 9,000 miles away, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
They are being held there due to the favourable surf conditions in the autonomous overseas country of the French Republic.
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However, there has been disruption to the surf events at the 2024 Games, with Tuesday's schedule postponed amid concerns over the conditions – with a storm system creating huge waves and unpredictable winds.
And there was almost a tragedy in a men's shortboard event on Monday, with one of the world's top surfers revealing he nearly drowned in the dangerous conditions.
Australian surfer Jack Robinson, 26, has revealed he came close to death during a heat at the Games, with several surfers requiring a jet-ski to rescue them after getting into difficulty.
"I got dragged over the bottom and almost had a two wave hold under," he said (via The Mirror).
"I didn't get much air. There wasn't much time. I got reminded of so many guys who have had so many bad wipe-outs here.
"I have had some pretty bad (wipe-outs) but in a contest it's different. You have way more adrenaline and there is way more on the line."
Robinson finished with a score of 13.94, beating John Florence's 9.07 to knock out the world No 1, but admitted he was grateful to come out of his previous heat alive.
"Every other sport is in a court or a stadium," he added. "We are in an ocean. It is the biggest, most powerful source of life we have on this planet.
"'The waves are so powerful. It doesn't relate to any other sport. Maybe an avalanche coming down on your head on a mountain. Maybe it's similar to that.
"It's so dangerous and so crazy."
Robinson was due to face fellow Australian Ethan Ewing in the quarter-finals but Tuesday's action was postponed by authorities due to dangerous conditions.
The Associated Press report that surf forecasting website Surfline has estimated that the surf will be large on Tuesday and Wednesday, but onshore winds could mean 'disorganised and potentially out of control' conditions.
"Technical delegates are expected to make a decision on the next likely date for the upcoming heats late afternoon on Tuesday in Tahiti," added the report.
This is only the second time surfing has made an appearance at the Olympics, following its debut at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Rory O'Callaghan